Tag Archives: Eating

Love of Self

Ordinary Time
January 11, 2018

Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20

‘All things are lawful for me’, but not all things are beneficial. ‘All things are lawful for me’, but I will not be dominated by anything. ‘Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food’, and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is meant not for fornication but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I therefore take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! –1 Corinthians 6:12-15

Here comes free will again. In this instance Paul, I think, is saying God expects us to take care of ourselves. Is this a part of Jesus’ commandment to love your neighbor as you love yourself? (Matthew 22:39) It is interesting that Paul starts his comments on fornication with a short essay on food. We probably all fail to eat properly and in general fail to take care of our bodies: exercise, get adequate sleep, drink enough water. He is saying that food is necessary for life and food can be misused. The same can be said for sex. While Paul is often sourced for being critical of homosexual behavior, a careful review of his mention of it will show he lumps it in with heterosexuality when either is being misapplied. In our society fornication including adultery is a norm for many. Overeating and eating unhealthily too are norms.

What is interesting is that both eating and sex are drivers of our economy. Would we have an obesity epidemic or widespread venereal disease, if not for greed? Both cross all our advertising senses continuously.

My Facebook account routinely carries a report of some young girl being suspended from school for wearing inappropriate clothing to school. Clothing that does not comply with the school dress code for decency. I do think females, as well as males, should dress in good taste. I also agree with those who are critical of schools for laying all the blame on girls dressing outside the code being the problem because boys just are not capable of controlling their raging hormones. Paul is saying in our scripture today that we need to control our behavior and not let the world’s interest entice us to do what is not good for us.

Prayer: Lord, at the start of a new year, enable us to care for ourselves lovingly and to love our neighbors in the same way. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Breaking Bread Together

breakingbreadLiving in the Spirit
July 7, 2015

Scripture Reading: 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 12b-19

They brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in its place, inside the tent that David had pitched for it; and David offered burnt-offerings and offerings of well-being before the Lord. When David had finished offering the burnt-offerings and the offerings of well-being, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts, and distributed food among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both men and women, to each a cake of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people went back to their homes. –2 Samuel 6:17-19

There is just something healing about eating a meal together. My dad was born into one of those yours, mine, and ours families. There were 15 children who lived to adulthood. As you can imagine our family reunions were rather large. When I was a small child those reunions also included my dad’s cousins and their families. We rented a building at the fairgrounds. I have fond memories of those dinners to this day. Lots of food, lots of laughter, sometimes some solemn moments to remember someone missing who had died, and in my family, lots of tall tales of earlier times. These memories are what came to mind as I imagined the Israelites setting down to eat the meal David provided.

Our government serves state dinners to dignitaries visiting. No matter how continuous relationships might be, taking time to break bread together allows people the opportunity to be reminded that we are all God’s children who must eat. We must have our bodies, minds, and spirits nurtured routinely to be and do the tasks of living in community.

Jesus knew this. He instituted what we call the Lord’s Supper, Communion, The Eucharist to help us remember whose we are and to nurture our bodies, minds, and spirits for our work as a part of the Body of Christ.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the gift of breaking bread together. Refresh our spirits and heal our souls as we share in your meal of remembrance. Make us whole, make us one. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.